Evaluation of the nested-PCR method for the diagnosis of bovine leukaemia virus [BLV] infection

The investigation of proviral DNA by the use of the nested-PCR revealed three Times more positive results than the detection of antibodies by ELISA. Examination of DNA isolated from the whole blood of cattle with the starters ZM2, ZM3 and ZM4, ZM5 of env gene of BLV showed 100% positive results on the farm G and 63.3% on the farm K. All the 15 negative results in ELISA proved to be positive by nested-PCR. The amplification product from the cattle DNA isolated from blood samples was seen as a single band of high intensity corresponding to a product size of 218 pb.